Dynamically providing host input control for streaming applications

ABSTRACT

A computer streaming system includes an application hints unit that provides an advisory hint for a remote user device corresponding to a selected streaming application, and a sending unit that manages streaming of the advisory hint and the selected streaming application over a network connected to the remote user device. Additionally, the computer streaming system includes a receiving unit that recovers the advisory hint for the remote user device, and a hints processing unit that applies the advisory hint to the remote user device when employing the selected computer application. Also, the computer streaming system includes a feedback unit that provides remote user feedback information over the network directed to responding to the advisory hint, and an update unit that provides the remote user feedback information. Also provided is a method of streaming a computer application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application is directed, in general, to computer application processing and, more specifically, to a computer streaming system and a method of streaming a computer application.

BACKGROUND

When using a device to display application content that has been streamed from another device, a required input capability to respond to some content may not be available for a user. For example, streaming a personal computer game that supports a controller may still require keyboard and mouse input for uncommon scenarios such as error dialogs, third party software overlays (e.g., a publisher's social overlay for user information) or text entry for saving games or in-game content creation, for example. When a user encounters these unanticipated streaming situations, the experience provided usually deteriorates as their progress is halted. They find themselves powerless to provide the requested information given their current device's inability to provide a proper input. Therefore, what is needed in the art is an enhanced way to provide the needed information.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer streaming system and a method of streaming a computer application.

In one embodiment, the computer streaming system includes an application hints unit that is coupled to a streaming device to provide an advisory hint for a remote user device corresponding to a selected streaming application, and a sending unit that is coupled to the application hints unit to manage streaming of the advisory hint and the selected streaming application over a network connected to the remote user device. Additionally, the computer streaming system includes a receiving unit that is coupled to the network to recover the advisory hint for the remote user device, and a hints processing unit that is coupled to the receiving unit to apply the advisory hint to the remote user device when employing the selected computer application. Also, the computer streaming system includes a feedback unit that is coupled to the remote user device to provide remote user feedback information over the network directed to responding to the advisory hint, and an update unit that is coupled to the streaming device to provide the remote user feedback information.

In another aspect, the method of streaming a computer application includes providing an advisory hint for a remote user device corresponding to a selected streaming application and streaming the advisory hint and the selected streaming application over a network connected to the remote user device. The method additionally includes recovering the advisory hint for the remote user device and applying the advisory hint to the remote user device when employing the selected computer application. The method also includes providing remote user feedback information over the network directed to responding to the advisory hint and providing the remote user feedback information to update the streaming source.

The foregoing has outlined preferred and alternative features of the present disclosure so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the disclosure that follows. Additional features of the disclosure will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a computer streaming system constructed according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a local user device streaming arrangement employing a computer streaming system and constructed according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cloud server streaming arrangement employing a computer streaming system and constructed according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an end user arrangement constructed according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C illustrate examples of on-screen keyboards that may be employed with an end user arrangement such as that of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a general purpose computer constructed according to the principles of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of streaming a computer application carried out according to the principles of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed toward streaming of a computer application from an initiating device to a remote user device employing an interconnecting network. These embodiments detect when information input capabilities for the remote user device are not sufficient for a host application's current user interface.

For example, embodiments of the present disclosure detect when a dialog between host and a remote device requires mouse and keyboard operations that are not supported by an existing controller input (e.g., information request pops-ups). Once detected, a required emulated native support is dynamically provided for the remote device. For example, providing a joystick controlled mouse and on-screen keyboard that can be used by the remote user device as a controller input capability.

Once the user interface changes (e.g., the dialog is closed) and the embodiments detect that the streaming application's user interface is able to properly handle the remote device's input, the emulated native support for the input devices is dismissed, and the user is returned to a native input control.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a computer streaming system, generally designated 100, constructed according to the principles of the present disclosure. The computer streaming system 100 includes host streaming units 105, remote streaming units 110 and a network 115 that connects the two. In the illustrated embodiment, the host streaming units 105 include an application hints unit 106, a sending unit 107 and an update unit 108. The remote streaming units 110 include a receiving unit 111, a hints processing unit 112 and a feedback unit 113.

The application hints unit 106 is coupled to a streaming device to provide an advisory hint for a remote user device corresponding to a selected streaming application. The sending unit 107 is coupled to the application hints unit 106 to manage streaming of the advisory hint and the selected streaming application over the network 115, which is also connected to the remote user device. The receiving unit 111 is coupled to the network 115 to recover the advisory hint for the remote user device. The hints processing unit 112 is coupled to the receiving unit 111 to apply the advisory hint to the remote user device when employing the selected computer application.

The feedback unit 113 is coupled to the remote user device to provide remote user feedback information over the network 115 directed to responding to the advisory hint. The update unit 108 is coupled to the streaming device to provide the remote user feedback information. The streaming device generally includes a local user device or a cloud server.

In embodiments of this disclosure, the streaming device operates as a streaming host to the remote user device, which operates as a streaming client. Here, the host streaming device sends computer applications to the remote user device for processing and display there. Additionally, the streaming device provides information as to a state of the selected computer application in the form of the advisory hint, which supplies needed direction to the remote user device for its use in processing the selected computer application. The advisory hint makes the remote user device aware of a special processing requirement for the selected computer application.

For example, through detection of controller queries conducted by the application process or inspection of actual user interface elements, the host streaming device can determine what input methods are suitable for the content being streamed. Then, the host streaming device can request these from the remote user device in the form of an appropriate advisory hint.

For example, the remote user device can receive these advisory hints from the streaming device to show an on-screen keyboard that will pass keyboard events through to the host streaming device in the form of feedback information. Additionally, a joystick may be switched from sending joystick events to controlling a mouse position of the streaming device, thereby allowing the user to provide movement and selection functions (e.g., “clicking”) to comfortably operate a mouse from the joystick. This also may be accomplished through use of a virtual keystroke.

The controller for the remote user device may be mapped to keyboard or mouse events that give a user controller-like command over a dialog, which on the host streaming device, does not natively take controller input.

The remote user device may be switched away from displaying the streaming video to display a specific, native user input interface, such as a login user interface for a DRM (Digital Rights Management) application. This provides a more optimal user experience for interaction by abstracting away activities that otherwise would interfere with gameplay, for example. Additionally, the remote user device can enable a mode where a user can zoom in and zoom out of the streaming video, so that large dialogs and text can be made readable. This feature may be combined with using other input approaches described above to interact with the dialog.

FIG. 2 illustrates a local user device streaming arrangement, generally designated 200, employing a computer streaming system and constructed according to the principles of the present disclosure. The local user device streaming arrangement 200 is typically employed to transfer viewing of a computer application from a local computing device to a remote computing or display device. The streaming arrangement 200 includes a local user device 205, examples of remote user devices 210 and a network 215 connecting the two, as shown.

In the illustrated embodiment, the local user device 205 is a desktop computer that provides a general purpose computing capability. In this example, the remote user devices 210 include a smartphone 210A, a computer tablet 210B, a notebook computer 210C, a desk top computer 210D and a smart television 210E, as an example of a living room device. A controller 214 may be employed to facilitate operation of at least a portion of the remote user devices 210 (e.g., the computer tablet 210B and the smart television 210E).

The network 215 is representative of a public or private network that supports communication between the local and remote user devices 205, 210. The network 215 may employ wireless or wireline connections and generally may include the Internet, a cellular communications network or a WI-FI network, for example.

The streaming arrangement 200 also has a computer streaming system, which includes local streaming units 207 and remote streaming units 212 that employ the network 215. In the illustrated embodiment, the local streaming units 207 are coupled to the local user device 205, and the remote streaming units 212 are coupled to the remote user devices 210. Generally, the local streaming units 207 include application hints and sending units, and typically include update units. Correspondingly, the remote streaming units 212 generally include receiving and hints processing units and typically include feedback units.

In the embodiment illustrated, the local streaming units 207 may be included within the local user device 205 and may generally consist of software or hardware portions. Similarly, the remote streaming units 212 may be included within the remote user devices 210 and may generally consist of software or hardware portions, as well. In other embodiments, the local streaming units 207 or the remote streaming units 212 may be implemented separately from the local user device 205 or the remote user devices 210, respectively. Operation of the computer streaming system included in the streaming arrangement 200 parallels that of the computer streaming system 100 discussed with respect to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cloud server streaming arrangement, generally designated 300, employing a computer streaming system and constructed according to the principles of the present disclosure. The cloud server streaming arrangement 300 is typically employed to transfer viewing of a computer application from a cloud server to a remote computing or display device.

The streaming arrangement 300 includes a network 305, a cloud server 310, a local cloud terminal 315 and remote user devices 320. The network 305 is representative of a public or private network that supports communication between the cloud server 310, the local cloud terminal 315 and the remote user devices 320. The network 305 may employ wireless or wireline connections and generally may include the Internet, a cellular communications network or a WI-FI network, for example. The local cloud terminal 315 is employed by a local user to provide general set-up and streaming instructions to the cloud server 310 and to receive general or specific information from the cloud server 310. In this example, the remote user devices 320 include a smartphone 320A, a computer tablet 320B, a notebook computer 320C, a desk top computer 320D and a smart television 320E as an example of a living room device. As before, a controller 314 may be employed to facilitate operation of at least a portion of the remote user devices 310 (e.g., the computer tablet 310B and the smart television 310E).

The streaming arrangement 300 also includes a computer streaming system, which has cloud streaming units 312 and remote streaming units 322 that employ the network 305. In the illustrated embodiment, the cloud streaming units 312 are coupled to the cloud server 310, and the remote streaming units 322 are coupled to the remote user devices 320. Generally, the cloud streaming units 312 include application hints and sending units, and typically include update units. Correspondingly, the remote streaming units 322 generally include receiving and hints processing units and typically include feedback units.

In the embodiment illustrated, the cloud streaming units 312 may be included within the cloud server 310 and may generally consist of software or hardware portions. Similarly, the remote streaming units 322 may be included within the remote user devices 320 and may generally consist of software or hardware portions, as well. In other embodiments, the cloud streaming units 312 or the remote streaming units 322 may be implemented separately from the cloud server 310 or the remote user devices 320, respectively. As before, operation of the computer streaming system included in the streaming arrangement 300 parallels that of the computer streaming system 100 discussed with respect to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an end user arrangement, generally designated 400, constructed according to the principles of the present disclosure. The end user arrangement 400 includes a smart television 405 and a game controller 415, which is generally employed to control gameplay on the smart television 405. The smart television 405 may be employed to receive a streaming application and associated advisory hints from a streaming device. Accordingly, the game controller 415 may be employed to respond to the advisory hints while employing the streaming application.

A set of advisory icons (407-410) are shown that include a PC keyboard 407, an on-screen (virtual) keyboard 408, a virtual mouse 409 and a screen zoom control 410. A game-related icon 411 is also shown that may be employed to quit playing the game.

Each of the advisory icons (407-410) may be selected to respond to input requirements generated by an advisory hint. For example, the PC keyboard 407 is selected if needed to respond, and there is a hardware keyboard available that is coupled to the smart television 405. If the hardware keyboard is not available, the on-screen keyboard 408, which is controlled by the game controller 415, may be selected to respond. Similarly, the virtual mouse 409, also controlled by the game controller 415, may be selected, as needed. The screen zoom control 410 may be selected by the game controller 415 when enlarging or reducing a screen image display size is required to respond.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C illustrate examples of on-screen keyboards, generally designated 500, 510, 515, that may be employed with an end user arrangement such as that of FIG. 4. The on-screen keyboards 500, 510, 515 are respectively employed for a response generation requiring alphabets, numbers or symbols and other functions, respectively.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a general purpose computer, generally designated 600, constructed according to the principles of the present disclosure. The general purpose computer 600 may be employed as a local user device or as a cloud server as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. The general purpose computer 600 may typically accommodate a wide variety of computer application software, although a computer gaming application is indicated above. The general purpose computer 600 is capable of streaming display rendering information for a remote user device when a computer application is to be streamed to the remote user device for its use there.

The general purpose computer 600 includes a system central processing unit (CPU) 606, a system memory 607, a graphics processing unit (GPU) 608 and a frame memory 609. The general purpose computer 600 also includes local or cloud streaming units 610, depending on its use. Generally, the local or cloud streaming units 510 are employed by the general purpose computer 600 to provide advisory hints for a remote user device that correspond to a selected computer application and manage streaming of the advisory hints over a network connected to the remote user device.

The system CPU 606 is coupled to the system memory 607 and the GPU 608 to provide general computing processes and control of operations for the general purpose computer 600. The system memory 607 includes long term memory storage (e.g., a hard drive) for computer applications and random access memory (RAM) to facilitate computation by the system CPU 606. The GPU 608 is further coupled to the frame memory 509 to provide display and frame control information.

The local or cloud streaming units 610 are generally indicated in the general purpose computer 600, and in one embodiment, include a software module that may correspond to software included with a computer application or software that is independent of the computer application. The local or cloud streaming units 610 may operationally reside in the system memory 607, the frame memory 609 or in portions of both. The local or cloud streaming units 610 may alternately include a hardware portion or be totally implemented in hardware.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of streaming a computer application, generally designated 700, carried out according to the principles of the present disclosure. The method 700 starts in a step 705, and then in a step 710, an advisory hint is provided for a remote user device corresponding to a selected streaming application from a streaming source. The advisory hint and the selected streaming application are streamed over a network connected to the remote user device, in a step 715. The advisory hint is recovered for the remote user device, in a step 720, and the advisory hint is applied to the remote user device when employing the selected computer application, in a step 725. Remote user feedback information is provided over the network directed to responding to the advisory hint, in a step 730, and the remote user feedback information is provided to update the streaming source, in a step 735.

In one embodiment, providing the advisory hint includes notification of an event that requires a keyboard or a mouse operation. Correspondingly, the keyboard or the mouse operation is an on-screen keyboard or an on-screen mouse operation. In another embodiment, providing the advisory hint includes notification of an event that requires zooming in or zooming out of the selected streaming application. In an additional embodiment, providing the advisory hint includes notification of an event that requires mapping of a remote client control device to provide a keyboard or a mouse operation for the remote user device or the streaming source.

In a further embodiment, the streaming source is selected from the group consisting of a local user device and a cloud server. In a still further embodiment, the remote user device is selected from the group consisting of a computer tablet, a smartphone, a notebook computer, a desk top computer and a living room device. In yet a further embodiment, the network includes one selected from the group consisting of a WI-FI network, the Internet and a cellular communications network. The method 700 ends in a step 740.

While the method disclosed herein has been described and shown with reference to particular steps performed in a particular order, it will be understood that these steps may be combined, subdivided, or reordered to form an equivalent method without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. Accordingly, unless specifically indicated herein, the order or the grouping of the steps is not a limitation of the present disclosure.

Those skilled in the art to which this application relates will appreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutions and modifications may be made to the described embodiments. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer streaming system, comprising: a host streaming unit; a remote user device; and a network, wherein: the host streaming unit determines what input methods are suitable for the remote user device for content being streamed in a selected application to the remote user, the host streaming unit comprising: an application hints unit that provides an advisory hint to the remote user device corresponding to a selected streaming application; and a sending unit coupled to the application hints unit to manage streaming of the advisory hint and the content streamed in the selected application over the network connected to the remote user device; and the remote user device comprising: a receiving unit coupled to the network to recover the advisory hint for the remote user device; and a hints processing unit coupled to the receiving unit to apply the advisory hint to the remote user device when employing the selected application such that the determined input method is used by the remote user device.
 2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the advisory hint includes notification of an event that requires a keyboard or a mouse.
 3. The system as recited in claim 2 wherein the keyboard or the mouse is an on-screen keyboard or an on-screen mouse.
 4. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the advisory hint includes notification of an event that requires zooming in or zooming out of the selected streaming application.
 5. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the advisory hint includes notification of an event that requires mapping a remote client control device to provide a keyboard or a mouse for the remote user device or the streaming device.
 6. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a feedback unit that is coupled to the remote user device to provide remote user feedback information over the network directed to responding to the advisory hint.
 7. The system as recited in claim 6 further comprising an update unit that is coupled to the streaming device to provide the remote user feedback information.
 8. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the streaming device is selected from the group consisting of: a local user device; and a cloud server.
 9. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the network includes one selected from the group consisting of: a WI-FI network; the Internet; and a cellular communications network.
 10. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the remote user device is selected from the group consisting of: a computer tablet; a smartphone; a notebook computer; a desk top computer; and a living room device.
 11. A method of streaming a computer application, comprising: determining, by a host streaming unit, what input methods are suitable for a remote user device for content being streamed in the computer application to the remote user device; providing, by the host streaming unit, an advisory hint for the remote user device corresponding to a selected application; streaming, by the host streaming unit, the advisory hint and the content streamed in the selected application over a network connected to the remote user device; recovering, by the remote user device, the advisory hint for the remote user device; and applying, by the remote user device, the advisory hint to the remote user device when employing the selected application such that the determined input method is used by the remote user device.
 12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein providing the advisory hint includes notification of an event that requires a keyboard or a mouse operation.
 13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the keyboard or the mouse operation is an on-screen keyboard or an on-screen mouse operation.
 14. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein providing the advisory hint includes notification of an event that requires zooming in or zooming out of the selected streaming application.
 15. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein providing the advisory hint includes notification of an event that requires mapping of a remote client control device to provide a keyboard or a mouse operation for the remote user device or the streaming source.
 16. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising providing remote user feedback information over the network directed to responding to the advisory hint.
 17. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising providing the remote user feedback information to update the streaming source.
 18. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the streaming source is selected from the group consisting of: a local user device; and a cloud server.
 19. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the network includes one selected from the group consisting of: a WI-FI network; the Internet; and a cellular communications network.
 20. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the remote user device is selected from the group consisting of: a computer tablet; a smartphone; a notebook computer; a desk top computer; and a living room device. 